Community & Business
5 May, 2026
New Projects Planned for Oakey Cemetery
Oakey Cemetery is set to benefit from a series of new memorial and reflection projects including the construction of a columbarium.
The Oakey Cemetery Committee is progressing the initiatives, which include the development of an RSL memorial wall, a dedicated area for quiet reflection, and the construction of a new columbarium to house urns.
The proposed RSL memorial wall will provide a permanent tribute to local men and women who have served in the Australian Defence Force.
Importantly, the RSL wall will allow local veterans to be recognised regardless of whether they are buried at Oakey Cemetery, cremated without a traditional headstone, or laid to rest elsewhere.
Once finished, it is intended the memorial wall will have an appropriate mural painted on the southern side of the amenities block, with a area set aside for memorial plaques.
The RSL wall aims to complement existing graves and memorials, while offering families a meaningful place to visit, particularly on significant occasions such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.
The committee has worked with the Oakey RSL sub-branch to assist with the placement of plaques for Returned Servicemen from World War I and World War II who did not previously have a permanent memorial, helping ensure their service is recognised and preserved for future generations.
The RSL wall memorial project has been a joint collaboration between the cemetery and the Oakey RSL Sub-branch.
It has been progressed thanks to financial contributions from a local couple, FH Wagner and Sons, as well as grant funding from Oakey RSL Sub-branch.
Another project underway includes the development of a landscaped reflection area within the cemetery grounds on the western boundary of the cemetery.
Designed as a quiet space with seating, the reflection area aims to offer visitors a peaceful environment to pause, reflect, or remember loved ones outside the setting of formal services.
As cremation continues to increase in popularity across Queensland, demand is growing for respectful and permanent options for the placement of ashes.
To meet this need, the Oakey Cemetery Committee is constructing a new columbarium, with individual niches designed to hold cremated remains.
The columbarium will provide secure niches for cremated remains and create a lasting place of remembrance for families.
Building of the Oakey Cemetery’s new columbarium should commence within the next two weeks.
“The columbarium will support the long-term sustainability of the cemetery by making more efficient use of available land, an increasingly important consideration as burial space becomes more limited,” Oakey Cemetery Committee member Sue Mitchell said.
“Together, the projects are intended to enhance the cemetery’s function as both a commemorative and community space.”
For further information or enquiries about the purchase and allocation of plots and cremation niches at Oakey Cemetery, contact either Rick Vlietstra on 0429 911 981, or Sue Mitchell on 0408 188 684 or by emailing her at roansumit@optusnet.com.au
